Germicidal liquid cleaner

ABSTRACT

A PHOSPHATE-FREE GERMICIDAL LIQUID CLEANER CONTAINS AN ALKYL DIMETHYL BENYL AMMONIUM CHLORIDE, A NONIONIC SURFACTANT, NITRILOTRIACETIC ACID TRISODIUM SALT BUILDER, AND SODIUM BICARBONATE STABILIZER.

United States Patent 3,812,046 GERMICIDAL LIQUID CLEANER Albert JayLancz, Piscataway, N.J., assignor to Colgate-Palmolive Company, NewYork, N.Y. No Drawing. Filed Nov. 18, 1970, Ser. No. 90,826 Int. Cl.Clld 1/10, 1/62, 3/48 US. Cl. 252-106 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A phosphate-free germicidal liquid cleaner contains an alkyldimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, a nonionic surfactant,nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt builder, and sodium bicarbonatestabilizer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general togermicidal liquid cleaners and in particular to phosphate-freegermicidal cleaners.

In view of the possible eutrophic effects of large amounts of phosphateson waterways and the like as manifested by undesirable algae growth, ithas been proposed to avoid the use of phosphate in cleaningcompositions, thus making it desirable to consider the use of otherbuilders.

I SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has been found that nitrilotriacetic acidtrisodium salt may be used as a builder in a germicidal liquid cleanercontaining a nonionic surfactant, an alkyl dimethyl benzyl quaternaryammonium chloride as a germicide, and sodium bicarbonate stabilizer. Inthe past the phosphate builders were found to be incompatible with thequaternary germicide.

Thus, a primary object of the present invention resides in the provisionof a phosphate free germicidal liquid cleaner.

Another object of the invention resides in the use. of nitrilotriaceticacid trisodium salt as a builder for nonionic surfactants in germicidalliquid cleaners containing alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride.

Still another object of the invention resides in the use of sodiumbicarbonate as a .stabilizer for a germicidal cleaner containing anonionic surfactant, nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt, and an alkyldimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride germicide.

DETAILED CONSIDERATION OF THE INVENTION The quaternary surfactantssuitable for use in my germicidal liquid cleaner are, for example, alkyldimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides in which the alkyl group containsfrom about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms. It has been found that from about0.10% to about 10.0% by weight preferably from about 0.10% to about 5.5%by weight of the quaternary surfactant is required.

Roccal or Cyneal, sold by Sterling Drug, have been found to becommercial quaternary germicidal ingredients suitable for use in mynovel liquid cleaners. In these alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloridesthe alkyl chain contains 8-18 carbon atoms. Other typical quaternaryammonium compounds are ethyl-dimethyl-stearyl ammonium chloride,benzyl-dimethyl-stearyl ammonium chloride, trimethyl stearyl ammoniumchloride, trimethylcetyl ammonium bromide, dimethyl-ethyl diluarylammonium chloride, dimethyl-propyl myristyl ammonium chloride, and thecorresponding methosulfates and acetates.

The nonionic surfactant used in the liquid cleaner may be, for example,a polyethoxylate of a fatty alcohol containing from about 10 to about 16carbon atoms and having an MR (mol ratio of combined ethylene oxide tohydrophobe) of at least 5. It has been found that useful germicidalliquid cleaners may contain from about 0.1% to about 10.0% by weight,preferably from about. 1.0% to about 5.0% by weight of thesepolyethoxylates in combination with the other ingredients as set forth.

Nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt in amounts ranging from about 1.0%to about 25.0% by weight, preferably from about 2.5% to about 12.5% byweight is suitable for use as a builder in my novel germicidal liquidcleaners. One important advantage of the nitrilotriacetic acid trisodiumsalt builder is that homogeneous solutions, even on dilution, areobtained where it is used. On the other hand, :certain phosphatebuilders are incompatible with the quarternary compounds under usualstorage conditions.

Additionally, a quantity of a polyethoxylated aliphatic amine isincluded wherein the aliphatic groups range from C to C Particularly,the compound having a C has been found useful as the resultingformulation yields a clear solution even when diluted with considerablewater for actual use. The quantity of the polyethoxylated aliphaticamine useful is in the range from about 0% to about 2.0% by weight,preferably from about 0.25% to about 0.75%. The MR of such productsranges from about 8 to about 20, and preferably 12 to 16.

A stabilizer, such as sodium bicarbonate, in amounts ranging fromabout0% to about 2.0% by Weight prefera-bly from about 0.2% to about 1.0% byweight, may be added to these novel cleaners of the present invention.

These liquid cleaners, when used as directed, are capable of destroyingvarious Gram-positive and Gramnegative bacteria.

The following compositions are set forth by way of example of my novelgermicidal liquid cleaners.

1 Average MW-197 Ci2 40% C14 20% balance Ca, C10, C16 and 018.

This composition has a pH of 10.5 and a specific gravity of 1.07 at F.The cleaning and germicidal properties of this product has beenestablished even when it is diluted to 64 times its volume with water.Rigorous testing revealed that the product at 1:64 dilution killspathogenic microorganisms, such as Pseudomonas aeraginosa,Staphylococcus aureus and Salmoneda choleraesuis.

EXAMPLE II Percent by weight Cyncal (alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammoniumchloride) 0.18 Fatty alcohols (C -C polyethoxylate (MR- 7) 1.20Nitrilotriacetate acid trisodium salt 5.00 NaHCO, 0.37 Polyoxyethylenelauryl amine (MR-l5) 0.40 Perfume 0.05

Balance water 50% C14; 40% C12; 10% C10.

This composition has a pH of 10.5 and a specific gravity of 1.03 at 80F. The composition may be diluted for use or may be used as is;depending on the nature of the work to be done.

EXAMPLE III Percent by weight EXAMPLE V Percent by weight C fattyalcohol polyethoxylate MR6.5 3.0 Ethyl-dimethyl-stearyl ammoniumchloride 2.5 Nitrilotriacetate acid trisodium salt 4.0 Balance water Itis understood that changes and variations may be made in the presentinvention by one skilled in the art without departing from the spiritand scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An aqueous germicidal liquid cleaner consisting essentially of:

(1) from about 0.10 to about 5.5 parts by weight of an alkyl dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride in which the alkyl group contains from about 8to about 18 carbon atoms,

(2) from about 1.0 to about 5.0 parts by weight of a polyethoxylate of a10 to 16 carbon atoms fatty alcohol with a mol ratio from about to 7,

(3) from about 2.5 to about 12.5 parts by weight of nitrilotriaceticacid trisodium salt, and

(4) water. I

2. A germicidal liquidcleaner according to claim 1 in which ingredients(1), (2) and (3) are in a quantity, respectively:

(1) from about 3.0 to about 7.0 parts by weight of the alkyl dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride,

(2) from about 2.0 to about 4.0 parts by weight of the fatty alcoholpolyethoxylate, and W (3) from about 8.0 to about 12.0 parts by weightof nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt.

3. A germicidal liquid cleaner according to claim 1 containing up toabout 0.4 parts by weight of sodium bicarbonate.

4. A germicidal liquid cleaner according to claim 2 containing about 0.8parts by weight of sodium bicarbonate. I

5. A liquid cleaner according to claim 1 containing up to 2% of apolyethoxylated aliphatic amine with a mol ratio of from 8 to 20 andwherein the aliphatic group contains from 8 to 18 carbon atoms.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,282,775 11/1966 Stonehill252-106 X 3,223,644 12/1'965 Law 252-106 3,247,119 4/ 1966 Herrick et a1252-106 3,507,796 4/ 1970 Voss 252-106 3,282,849 11/1966 Diehn et al252-106 FOREIGN PATENTS 795,814 5/1958 Great Britain.

663,565 12/ 1951 Great Britain.

6802352 8/ 1968 Netherlands.

964,448 7/1964 Great Britain.

661,724 11/1951 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES Amino Acid Chelating Agents in Detergent Applications,R. R. Pollard, Soap & Chem. Specialties, September 1966, pp. 58-62 and-135.

P-fizer Aminocarboxylic Acids Chelating Agents, Data Sheet No. 606,Chas. Pfizer & Co. Inc., pp. 8 and 9.

Sequestrene, Alrose Chem. Co., Prov. R. I., July 1952, pp. 25, 26.

Pfizer Aminocarboxylie Chelating Agents, Pfizer & Co., Inc., pp. 2 and7.

Procter & Gamble Technical Infor. Sheet, October 1964, Procter & GambleCo., pp. 1-4.

Products &.Processes," Soap & Chem. Specialties, July 1962, p. 159.

HERBERT B. GUYNN, Primary Examiner P. E. WILLIS, Assistant Examiner US.Cl. X.R.

